CBI FIR against second-biggest electoral bond buyer Megha Engineering in alleged bribery case

The CBI has registered an FIR against Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd, which was the second-biggest buyer of electoral bonds worth ₹966 crore, in an alleged bribery case.

Eight officials of the NISP and NMDC and two officials of MECON were also named in the FIR for receiving alleged bribe of around ₹78 lakh in clearing bills of ₹174 crore of Megha Engineering in connection with works related to Jagdalpur integrated steel plant, officials said Saturday.

• Also read: Megha Engineering: From a fabrication unit to an infrastructure major

Megha Engineering had emerged as the second-biggest buyer of electoral bonds and donated the highest amount of about ₹586 crore to the BJP, according to the data released by the Election Commission on March 21.

The company also donated ₹195 crore to BRS, ₹85 crore to DMK, and ₹37 crore to YSRCP. The TDP got about ₹25 crore from the company, while the Congress got Rs 17 crore. The JD-S, Jana Sena Party and the JD-U got smaller sums ranging from ₹5 crore to ₹10 crore.

According to the FIR made public on Saturday, the CBI had registered a preliminary enquiry on August 10, 2023 about the alleged bribery in ₹315 crore project related to works of intake well and pump house and cross-country pipeline at the integrated steel plant Jagdalpur which was awarded to the company.

Based on the findings of the preliminary enquiry, a recommendation was made on March 18 to register a regular case into the alleged bribery which was filed on March 31.

The CBI has named eight officials of NISP and NMDC Ltd -- retired executive director Prashant Dash, director (production) DK Mohanty, DGM PK Bhuyan, DM Naresh Babu, senior manager Subro Banerjee, retired CGM (finance) L Krishna Mohan, GM (finance) K Rajshekhar, manager (finance) Somnath Ghosh, who allegedly received ₹73.85 lakh bribe.

• Also read: Megha Engineering: Meet the Hyderabad-based infrastructure company that has funded various political parties

The agency has also named two officials of MECON Ltd - AGM (contracts) Sanjeev Sahay and DGM (contracts) K Illavarsu - who allegedly received payment of ₹5.01 lakh against the payment of ₹174.41 crore by NMDC Ltd to MEIL against 73 invoices from Subhash Chandra Sangras, general manager, MEIL and Megha Engineering and unknown others.

Chandra and Megha Engineering have also been named as accused in the case.

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